PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS, METHODS FOR INSTALLING PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS, AND KITS FOR INSTALLING PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS

• US 20100242381A1
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Certainteed, LLC (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA)
• Original Assignee: CertainTeed Corp. (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Jenkins, Robert L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,646,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/173.300
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/67 in the form of roof constructions in the form of shingles or tiles F24S20/69
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/014 Methods for installing support elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/021 Sealing means between support elements and mounting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/601 by bonding, e.g. by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/00 Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/25 Roof tile elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

The present invention relates particularly to photovoltaic systems for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. One aspect of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing system disposed on a roof deck. The photovoltaic roofing system includes one or more photovoltaic elements contiguously disposed on the roof deck, the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements defining a photovoltaic area; a plurality of roofing elements disposed adjacent the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, along their side edges; side flashing disposed along the side edges of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, the side flashing having a cross-sectional shape comprising a vertically-extending feature and a flange extending from each lateral side at the bottom of the vertically-extending feature, with the flange facing the photovoltaic area being at least partially disposed between a photovoltaic element and the roof deck, and the flange facing away from the photovoltaic area being at least partially disposed between a roofing element and the roof deck.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic roofing system disposed on a roof deck having an upper end and a lower end, the photovoltaic roofing system comprising:

one or more photovoltaic elements contiguously disposed on the roof deck, the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements together having a top edge facing the upper end of the roof deck, a bottom edge facing the lower end of the roof deck, and two side edges, the one or more photovoltaic elements defining a photovoltaic area;

a plurality of roofing elements disposed adjacent the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, along their side edges;

side flashing disposed along the side edges of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, the side flashing having a cross-sectional shape comprising a vertically-extending feature and a flange extending from each lateral side at the bottom of the vertically-extending feature, with the flange facing the photovoltaic area being at least partially disposed between a photovoltaic element and the roof deck, and the flange facing away from the photovoltaic area being at least partially disposed between a roofing element and the roof deck.

2. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive on the bottom surface of the photovoltaic element adheres the one or more photovoltaic element to the photovoltaic element-facing flange of the side flashing.

3. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of photovoltaic elements are disposed in the photovoltaic area.

5. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 3, further comprising flashing disposed at the interfaces between adjacent contiguously disposed photovoltaic elements.

6. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of photovoltaic elements is a linear array of strip-shaped photovoltaic elements, and the photovoltaic roofing system further comprises standing seam flashing, the standing seam flashing having a cross-sectional shape comprising a vertically extending feature, and two flanges, one extending laterally from each side at the bottom of the vertically extending feature, wherein the standing seam flashing is disposed at each interface between contiguously disposed photovoltaic elements, with each flange is disposed between one of the contiguously disposed photovoltaic elements and the roof deck.

7. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1, further comprising a bottom flashing disposed along the bottom edge of the photovoltaic area, disposed at least partially underneath the one or more photovoltaic elements and at least partially on top of a roofing element disposed along the bottom edge of the photovoltaic area.

8. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 7, wherein the bottom flashing has a cross-sectional shape comprising a vertically-extending feature and a flange extending from each lateral side at the bottom of the vertically-extending feature, with the flange facing the photovoltaic area being disposed at least partially underneath the one or more photovoltaic elements, and the flange facing away from the photovoltaic area being disposed at least partially on top of a roofing element disposed along the bottom edge of the photovoltaic area.

11. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1, further comprising a top flashing disposed along the top edge of the photovoltaic area, the top flashing disposed at least partially under a roofing element disposed along the top edge of the photovoltaic area, and at least partially over the one or more photovoltaic elements.

12. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 11, wherein the top flashing includes one or more cavities and/or recesses that act as a cover and/or conduit for electrical features protruding from the surface of the one or more photovoltaic elements at their top edges.

14. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1, wherein a panel is disposed between the one or more photovoltaic elements and the roof deck.

15. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1, wherein the roofing elements are bituminous shingles.

17. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the flashings includes a hemmed return.

18. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the flanges of the flashings have flexible portions.

20. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1, wherein the side flashings include a recessed insertion area formed in a side of the vertically-extending feature, and one or more roofing elements are at least partially disposed in the recessed insertion area.

23. The photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the side flashings is provided as one or more continuous pieces of flashing on the side facing the photovoltaic elements, and a plurality of stepped side flashing pieces on the side facing the roofing elements.

27. A method for installing a photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1 onto a roof comprising a roof deck having an upper end and a lower end, the method comprising

disposing side flashing along the side edges of the photovoltaic area, the side flashing having a cross-sectional shape comprising a vertically-extending feature and a flange extending from each lateral side at the bottom of the vertically-extending feature, with the flange facing away from the photovoltaic area being at least partially disposed between a roofing element disposed along the side edges of the photovoltaic area and the roof deck;

and

contiguously disposing one or more photovoltaic elements in the photovoltaic area, with the flange of the side flashing facing the photovoltaic area being at least partially disposed between a photovoltaic element and the roof deck.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the roof further comprises roofing elements arrayed on the roof deck, the method further comprising, before performing the disposing steps, removing a plurality of roofing elements disposed within an area surrounding the photovoltaic area.

29. A kit for the installation of a photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1, the kit comprising

one or more photovoltaic elements;

and

a plurality of side flashings, each having a cross-sectional shape comprising a vertically-extending feature and a flange extending from each lateral side at the bottom of the vertically-extending feature.

30. A kit for the installation of a photovoltaic roofing system according to claim 1, the kit being for use with one or more contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, the kit comprising:

a plurality of side flashings, each having a cross-sectional shape comprising a vertically-extending feature and a flange extending from each lateral side at the bottom of the vertically-extending feature;

one or more top flashings; and

one or more bottom flashings,

wherein the side flashings, the one or more top flashings and the one or more bottom flashings are sufficient length to enclose a photovoltaic area defined by the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements.

4. (canceled)

9-10. -10. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

21-22. -22. (canceled)

24-26. -26. (canceled)

31. A flashing system comprising a lineal flashing having a vertically-extending portion, a flange extending from the bottom of one side of the vertically-extending portion, and a downward-facing recess formed in the vertically-extending portion on its face opposing the flange;

and a plurality of step flashings each having a length substantially shorter than that of the lineal flashing, and each comprising a vertically-extending portion and a flange extending from the bottom thereof, with the vertically-extending portion of each step flashing being configured to fit within the downward-facing recess of the lineal flashing.